Guj LPG distributors lock horns with IOC

"We have received written reports of cylinder weight from the truck in presence of company's sales officer where 222 cylinders were found underweight from a single truck," said PM Patel, President, All India LPG distributors federation (Gujarat).

The distributors will discuss the issue in the meeting to be held at Rajkot in next week. The federation has received several complaints from indane distributors of Rajkot-based indane bottling plant for underweight refills.

"At present, we are under pressure as our distributors have to face rough treatment from customers and many unpleasant incidents have taken place at distributorship. The underweight problems may lead to the dealers penalized," says a letter, dated May 13, written by the association to the IOC.

As per the norms, an LPG cylinder for household use should weigh 14.2 kg and commercial cylinder should weigh 19 kg. "But, our findings suggest cylinders weigh 200 gms to 1.5 kg less," he added.

The civil supplies department of Gujarat government has carried out surprise checkings at Junagadh and in some cases the officials found irregularities, say government officials.

While the federation claims it has written to the IOC regarding the issue, Sharat Meshram, executive director of IOC told Business Standard that they have not received any representations.